LAS CRUCES — Strapped to Joe Franco's hiking pack was a 5-foot statue of the Lady of Guadalupe. And early Tuesday, he and his friends set off from the community of Tortugas, bound for "A" Mountain.

It was his 15th year bearing the homemade statue up the mountain — a physical journey that he said is packed with spiritual meaning for him. This year, however, was more tragic than the others. His thoughts during the trek turned toward his father, who died in June, and a cousin, who died from cancer.

Advertisement

"Hopefully they're in a better place," he said, mid-way up the 45-minute mountain climb. "I thank God that at least now they're not suffering. But it hurts a lot."

Franco and his friend, Danny Vega, were joined by hundreds of Doña Ana County residents — as well as family members who've returned to the area for a few days — to celebrate the 2012 Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival. The trek is a central part of the fiesta.

Vega and Franco began in the early hours from Tortugas, a small community just south of Las Cruces. They headed east along a dirt path for a few miles, until they reached the foot of "A" Mountain.

Our Lady of Guadalupe — also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe — is said to have appeared to a peasant near Mexico City in the 1500s in a miraculous way. In the centuries since, the apparition has been celebrated by devout Catholics.

Also Tuesday, Yolanda Villa of Anthony, N.M., hiked with a purpose. Six years ago, her husband was deported into Mexico.

"I want to get the Virgin Mary to help me to get him over here," said an emotional Villa. "He has an appointment next year with the consulate to see about hopefully getting him home and hopefully joining me next year to climb the mountain."

Continued Villa: "It's been hard, but I'm here."

Pilgrims took a number of different paths up the face of the mountain, also called Tortugas Mountain. But each route ended at the top, where people started campfires using creosote and mesquite bushes. Many warmed up burritos, tamales and other breakfast food.

The Rev. Ray Flores of St. Albert the Great Newman Center in Las Cruces led a Mass, accompanied by guitarists and singers. He said Bishop Ricardo Ramirez wasn't able to attend because he was in Rome.

A number of hikers created decorative walking sticks out of yucca stalks, ribbons and pieces of vegetation.

Father Tom Smith of Holy Cross Retreat Center hiked the path up the mountain for the first time.

"I think it gives a deeper celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe," he said. "Part of it is the gift of my own time, my own energy to celebrate it."

Continued Smith: "We know Jesus always walked lots of places, wherever he went. So we know to walk is part of the experience of faith."

San Miguel resident Irene Juarez made the trek to fulfill a promise she'd made earlier this summer.

"I was sick —very bad," said Juarez, as she heated burritos and tamales over one of the campfires. "I promised the Virgin: If I got well, I would climb the mountain in December."

The events will continue Wednesday in the community of Tortugas.

Upon descending the steep mountain, Franco said the most difficult part of the hike — the last stretch back to Tortugas entails a sandy arroyo — was yet to come. But he said it went well.

"It's another year done, and I'm looking forward to next year again," he said.

Diana Alba Soular can be reached at (575) 541-5443; follow her on Twitter @AlbaSoular